High explosive charge



(No Model.) Q

' J. W. GRAYDON.

, HIGH EXPLOSIVE CHARGE.

No. 399,883. Patented Mar. 19, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES \VEIR GRAYDON, OF \VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO ROBERT SOUTIHVORTI-I LAVVRENOE, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

HIGH-EXPLOSIVE CHARGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 399,883, dated March 19, 1889.

Application filed November 8, 1888. Serial No. 290,293. (No specimens.)

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES WEIR GRAYDON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at \Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Explosive Charges, of which,

the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The purpose of my invention is the production of an improved high-explosive charge for ordnance-shells, torpedoes, and blasting and other kindred purposes; and to this end my invention consists in a charge made in accordance with my invention, as hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of my improved charge put up in the form of a roll, partly broken away at the loose end to show the construction. Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a modified form of the charge, partly broken out to show the UVHStI'IlCtIOH.

In making this high-explosive charge I take woolen or cotton cloth or other like fabric, A, and saturate it with nitro-glycerine. Then, in order to confine the nitro-glycerine within the fabric, I cover the latter with paraffined paper, which I cement to the fabric; or, instead of using the paper, I may coat the fabric with shellac. In fact, I consider the c1nployment of any means having for its object to prevent the exudation of the nitro-glycerine from the fabric as within the scope of my invention, the coating or covering for this purpose being represented by the reference-letter B.

My improved charge may be made up in various forms, one very desirable form, on account of the facility with which the explosive 40 can be handled, being shown in Fig. 1, which consists in merely making a roll from a single piece of the fabric.

Another very desirable form of charge is one made up of disks of the explosive fabric, 45 one of which is shown in Fig. 2.- As many of these maybe used placed together as is found necessary. In case the disks are to be used in a shell having a central fuse-tube they will be perforated centrally, as at a.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An explosive charge made of a sheet of suitable fabric saturated with nitro-glycerine and having a coating or covering capable of preventing the exudation of the nitro-glycer- Inc.

2. An explosive charge made of a sheet of suitable fabric saturated with nitro-glycerine and covered with paraffined paper, as described.

3. An explosive charge made of a sheet of suitable fabric saturated with nitro-glycerine covered with paraffined paper and formed into a roll, as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES \VEIR GRAY DON.

WVitnesses:

G. W. BALLOCH, G. F. ROBERTS. 

